India has reaffirmed its opposition to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) amidst recent developments in the Maldives. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, emphasized that India’s cooperation with the Maldives is based on jointly addressing shared challenges and priorities.
These developments follow the Maldives’ president-elect, Mohamed Muizzu, expressing support for China’s BRI. Bagchi reiterated India’s well-established stance on the BRI, which includes concerns about the program’s “lack of respect for our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
India did not receive an invitation to this year’s Belt and Road Forum hosted by China. The key reason for India’s absence from the BRI is its objections to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a significant component of the initiative, which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India believes the program does not offer a level playing field for non-Chinese companies.
Bagchi pointed out that parts of the CPEC pass through territories in “illegal occupation of Pakistan,” which is viewed as a violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. India’s concerns about the BRI have remained consistent since its statement in May 2017 during the first Belt and Road Forum.
The 10th-anniversary Belt and Road Forum was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had skipped the G20 Summit hosted by India. However, Bagchi emphasized that India does not wish to link G20 participation with other matters, highlighting that India had invited all G20 members to the summit in New Delhi.
In response to questions about the Maldives’ president-elect endorsing the BRI and plans to remove Indian military personnel from the archipelago, Bagchi emphasized India’s contributions to the Maldives in humanitarian aid, disaster relief, medical evacuations, and combating illegal maritime activities. Over the past five years, Indian personnel have carried out more than 500 medical evacuations, saving Maldivian lives. India has conducted multifaceted missions to safeguard maritime security, underscoring its commitment to the partnership with the Maldives, particularly in areas of humanitarian assistance, welfare, and disaster relief.
